For me, creating a painting is creating a moment in a story for the viewer to complete.
—
Born in England in 1968 my family immigrated to Canada when I was 6 years old. Even before arriving in Canada I have vivid memories of spending countless hours of joy with a bucket of plain LEGO bricks. Continuing to high school I maintained an off and on interest in drawing.
I forgot about art as most people do and didn’t pick it up again until I went to college at 27 to study Graphic Design and Illustration. At the time my focus was on design and not art.
After about 4 years into my design career I took up painting being inspired by a friend. Within a year I was showing in galleries in Vancouver. After another 4 years art dropped off my radar again and didn’t come back into my life for another 7 years. I had made some meaningful revelations and decided that I was going to paint using my own ‘voice’. I turned to a much more detailed and direct approach and every time I sit in front of a new piece I don’t limit myself to a rigid procedure. That would be like focusing so far in the distance you can’t see what’s right in front of you. For me, I let what I’m currently trying to represent dictate my approach and technique.
Now at over 25 years as an Art Director I find painting to be an essential part of my existence that I will never leave again. My current goal is to transition to teach painting and pass on my knowledge and experiences to a new generation.